Cooperative Ecoystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What agency offered this funding opportunity?

This opportunity was offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through its Western Geographic Science Center (WGSC).

2) What type of funding mechanism was used?

The opportunity used a cooperative agreement and was described as discretionary.

3) What program or partnership framework does this opportunity fall under?

It was offered under the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CPCESU), which operates under the broader CESU partnership framework.

4) What is the main purpose of the project?

The project is research-focused and intended to strengthen USGS efforts to build a spatially explicit forecasting tool that predicts how coastal habitats will respond as sea level rises.

5) What specific technical need is USGS trying to address?

A central need is the ability to map Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in coastal waters with enough precision to support reliable, decision-ready modeling as part of a larger habitat forecasting tool.

6) What work is the CESU partner expected to perform?

The work centers on developing TSS maps for coastal, turbid water environments, where suspended sediment and water clarity can be difficult to quantify using satellite observations.

7) Are the deliverables just a single map, or something more?

The deliverable is not described as a one-off map. The intent is a mapping approach and products that improve the technical foundation for forecasting habitat change, producing outputs USGS teams can use to build remote-sensing-based TSS models with sufficiently high accuracy.

8) How will the TSS mapping outputs be used by USGS?

USGS monitoring and research teams are expected to use the mapping outputs to develop remote-sensing-based TSS models that are accurate enough to support decision-ready modeling within the broader sea-level-rise habitat forecasting effort.

9) What kinds of environments are emphasized for the TSS mapping?

The opportunity specifically emphasizes coastal, turbid water environments.

10) What skills or capabilities did USGS emphasize for an applicant/partner?

USGS emphasized two key capabilities:

• Strong working knowledge of algorithms used to model TSS in coastal and turbid waters, including empirical or semi-analytical approaches that relate satellite reflectance to suspended sediment concentrations.
• Hands-on understanding of applying satellite imagery to produce TSS maps, implying experience with remote-sensing workflows such as image preprocessing, atmospheric correction considerations, calibration/validation with field or reference data when available, and generating spatial products that can be integrated into broader modeling tools.

11) Does the opportunity specify particular algorithm types for TSS modeling?

Yes. It references empirical or semi-analytical approaches commonly used to relate satellite reflectance to suspended sediment concentrations in coastal and turbid waters.

12) Does the opportunity mention expectations around preprocessing or validation?

Yes. It implies experience with image preprocessing, atmospheric correction considerations, calibration/validation with field or reference data when available, and producing spatial products suitable for integration into larger modeling tools.

13) What is the expected number of awards?

The opportunity indicated an expected single award.

14) What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount was $23,500.

15) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

16) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to organizations that are already participating partners in the Colorado Plateau CESU program, consistent with CESU rules.

17) Why is eligibility limited to Colorado Plateau CESU partners?

The opportunity notes that CESU rules rely on established partnerships to provide research, technical assistance, and education support to federal agencies, and eligibility was therefore limited to existing CPCESU partners.

18) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed was 15.808 (USGS Research and Data Collection).

19) What was the posting date and the application closing date?

The opportunity was posted on February 11, 2014, and had a closing date of February 21, 2014.

20) Is this opportunity still open?

No. It was later archived on May 10, 2014.

21) Where could applicants find the official posting details?

Additional posting details were available through Grants.gov under Funding Opportunity Number G14AS00033.

22) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed was G14AS00033.

23) Who was the contact person for access issues or questions?

The listed contact was Faith Graves at USGS.

24) What contact information was provided for the USGS point of contact?

Faith Graves could be reached at 703-648-7356 or by email at fgraves@usgs.gov.